DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Violens remix) (MP3)

"The problem with hearing so much music is it gets harder to be surprised. But this album defies all preconceptions and never settles into a genre that you could name and locate on the shelves or download menus." [Guardian]

The Very Best's album Warm Heart of Africa is out (physically) this week. Track #3, "Warm Heart Of Africa", in addition to featuring vocals by Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, has been remixed many times, many ways. And now here's a new one by Violens. Check out the MP3 above.

Violens have three CMJ shows scheduled so far. One is at Bowery Ballroom with Kyp Malone's Rain Machine. Another is the Green Owl showcase with The Very Best at Le Poisson Rouge on October 21st. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Violens remixed The Very Best (MP3), touring (CMJ dates) "

DOWNLOAD: Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit - The Very Best Mixtape (ZIP)
DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa (w/ Ezra Koenig) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Metronomy remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Architecture in Helsinki rmx) (MP3)

The Very Best @ Supreme Trading in July (more by Ryan Muir)

The Very Best ("European production duo Radioclit and Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya") are holding a remix contest for their song "Julia." It's the seventh track on their debut full-length, Warm Heart of Africa, which is out now digitally and out on CD October 6th on Green Owl Records. The raw files are hosted HERE and you can send your submission to tvbrmxcomp@gmail.com. Brooklyn's Javelin remixed the song, and you can check out their version on Green Owl's site.

The Very Best will play Green Owl's CMJ showcase on October 21st at (Le) Poisson Rouge. They share a bill with Theophilus London, Violens, Grandchildren, Ninjasonik and Nat Geo Music. Tickets are on sale, or you can try and get in with your CMJ badge.

Violens are also playing a CMJ showcase at Bowery Ballroom on October 24th.

Ninjasonik just posted a small tribute to Beau Velasco of TheDeathSet who recently passed away. "NY ceremonies for Beau will be this Fri & Sat". Stay tuned for more details.

Following their CMJ show, The Very Best has a short string of dates around North America. Album art, tracklist and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "The Very Best touring (dates), playing Green Owl CMJ show @ LPR w/ Violens, Ninjasonik & more ++ a remix contest"

DOWNLOAD: Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit - The Very Best Mixtape (ZIP)
DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa (w/ Ezra Koenig) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Metronomy remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Architecture in Helsinki rmx) (MP3)

LPR photos by Kwesi Abbensetts, Supreme Trading photos by Ryan Muir

Esau Mwamwaya @ Le Poisson Rouge - July 18, 2009 (by Kwesi Abbensetts)

The Very Best (production duo Radioclit and Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya) played a late-night show at (Le) Poisson Rouge on July 18th. They were joined by two backup dancers (one of which was on crutches!), and Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend for one song. He stopped by to contribute his part on "Warm Heart Of Africa." That track and two new remixes are posted above.

Ezra Koenig @ Le Poisson Rouge - July 18, 2009 (by Kwesi Abbensetts)

The Very Best's debut record, Warm Heart of Africa, is due to come out on Green Owl, the NYC-based record label that was founded by Benjamin Brewer (the father of M.I.A.'s child), on September 22nd (available digitally August 25). Ezra and M.I.A. both sing songs on it. That album is not to be confused with Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit Are The Very Best which was the mixtape (that contains songs by Vampire Weekend and M.I.A.) they released for free in 2008. Grab that above.

On Saturday night (7/25) (exactly a week after the LPR show), Radioclit brought "their wild monthly London residency, SECOUSSE, to the States for an all out UK vs. BK battle of the riddims." And by "the states", they mean Supreme Trading (or the former Supreme Trading building at 213 N 8th St) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Green Owl artist Janka Nabay was also on the bill.

"While many genres of African music have made the crossover to the west (Afrobeat, Highlife, etc), Sierra Leone's traditional Muslim street songs, or Bubu music, have not. The king of Bubu is Ahmed Janka Nabay, an amazing humanitarian musician whose life has been shaped by Sierra Leone's civil war." [Straw vs Gold]

According to Green Owl, it was the king of Bubu's first "official" NYC show, but he didn't have to come too far; Ahmed Janka currently lives in Philadelphia. He wore a traditional Rafia costume at the show, that he made earlier that day....

Ahmed Janka @ Supreme Trading - July 25, 2009 (by Ryan Muir)

AND, it ends up that Saturday night's show at Supreme Trading was also a sort-of-secret Very Best show. Radioclit did DJ, but then performed with Esau too (no Ezra this time though). More pictures from both shows and the new album artwork, below...

Continue reading "The Very Best (new remixes) played LPR (w/ Ezra Koenig) & Supreme Trading (a secret show?) w/ Ahmed Janka - pics "